Coconut Cake for Christmas is a custom in the American South. For our Florida Christmas, our niece Tracey made a tree-shaped Sour Cream Coconut Cake for our family Christmas Dinner. It was beautiful! And melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Coconut Cake doesn't have to be only for Christmas. My Grandmother made wonderful coconut cakes all year round. This is a perfect layer cake recipe.

Sour Cream Coconut Cake

Preheat oven to 350°

Grease and flour 2 layer-cake tins

CAKE

1 18-oz box white cake mix
1 c sour cream
3/4 c milk
3 egg whites
1/3 c confectioner's sugar
2 T coconut extract

ICING

3 and 3/4 c confectioner's sugar
1/3 c sour cream
3/4 c solid vegetable shortening

CAKE

1. Combine the cake ingredients in a mixer bowl. Blend together at low speed, then beat at high speed for 3 minutes.
2. Pour into cake pans.

Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until cake center springs back when depressed slightly.

Cool for ten minutes. Then turn out on a rack.

ICING

1.Combine icing ingredients in a mixer bowl.
2. Blend until ingredients are combined, then beat on high speed for 3 minutes, until fluffy.

FINISH

1. Frost the top of one layer. Sprinkle it with 1/2 c coconut
2. Place the second layer on top. Frost entire cake.
3. Cover with coconut, pressing it in a little at a time.

Tracey with Christmas Tree Cake Photo